Page 67 of Lethal Danger

She started to stand, too, but he waved her back down with his hand.

“Please, don’t leave yet.” He rounded the desk and sat on the front edge of it, close to Jazz’s chair. “I need to tell you something.” His eyes seemed serious and pensive as he aimed them at her. “Did you know your aunt wanted to have you over for brunch?”

A pang shot through Jazz’s chest at the memory. The hope it had given her, for a moment. She nodded. “The day after she…died.”

He nodded, the set of his mouth sad, as if he were holding back more grief. “She shared with me that since you were living close to us now, as an adult, she felt we should reconnect. She reminded me that family is important and should always be a priority. And with our daughters married and living in other states, I think she hoped you might be able to take their place, a little bit, in our lives.”

The lump growing in Jazz’s throat plunged behind her ribs and lodged there. Had she really? Maybe that was why Aunt Joan had been so much kinder and reminisced about the fair with Jazz that morning before…

“I admit, I didn’t completely understand what she was thinking, though I heartily agreed we should reconnect with you.” He looked off to the side. “But now that she’s…gone.” The thickness returned to his voice. He kept his gaze averted. “I understand what she meant.” He drew in a shaky breath. Then he ran a hand over his eyes before dragging his gaze back to Jazz.

Was that moisture lingering at the corner of his eye? Her chest clenched. Poor Uncle Pierce.

“You never know when you’ll lose the family you have.” He leaned forward and held his hand out to Jazz.

She stared at it. Did he want her to put her hand in his? The idea was beyond her comprehension. She glanced up at his face.

“You cannot put a price on family. And I want to make sure I don’t lose any more of mine. Including you, Jazz.” He moved his hand slightly closer.

Still not sure if he wanted her to, she reached out her hand and slowly set it in his. He closed his fingers around her hand in a soft, safe wrap like a dad might do with his daughter he loved.

Her heart swelled, even as she tried to tell it to stop. He was grieving. Hurting. He wasn’t himself.

And at any moment, when the grief wore off or he got over the shock, he’d return to gruff, standoffish Uncle Pierce who cared only about his blood relatives and his career.

She’d be thrown out in the cold again.

But as he looked at her with the wound of loss and mourning in his eyes, she couldn’t worry about protecting herself. No one was there for her when she’d lost loved ones. She couldn’t turn her back on Uncle Pierce in the same situation. If he wanted her support, she’d try to give it to him. At least until his daughters came home or he went back to his old self. Whichever came first.

Even as she concocted the pragmatic reasoning in her mind, her gaze fell on his hand holding hers. Emotion she shouldn’t indulge swelled in her heart. This must be what belonging felt like.

Maybe she could get a little comfort out of Uncle Pierce needing her, too, while it lasted.

“I like your choice of restaurants.” Jazz hit Hawthorne with her big green eyes across the candlelit table.

He smiled. But if he’d known the setting of the highly rated Italian restaurant was so romantic, he probably would’ve picked somewhere else for dinner. “Well, I’m sure it isn’t as nice as your apartment would’ve been.” He glanced around at the elegant tables. Couples occupied most of them.

And Jazz had probably known what kind of restaurant this was. That would explain the burgundy dress she wore that highlighted her feminine curves perfectly. She looked stunning. But for a date.

He thought he’d been clear this was business. Research.

Nevaeh’s questions cycled in his mind. Had she conveyed his answers to Jazz? The fact he’d said he wasn’t romantically interested?

The heat in her eyes as she smiled could definitely be described as romantic. “Believe me, this is way better than my apartment. And I don’t get to dress up often, so this is fun.”

He forced another smile. “I’m glad.” Except for the fact he may have accidentally caused her to think this was a date. “Thanks for agreeing to meet to help with my research.” Maybe the reminder would help her remember his interest wasn’t romantic.

She reached for her wine glass. “I still can’t believe you want to feature me in a book.” She took a sip and lowered the glass. “To be honest, with everything that’s been going on, this is a nice escape from reality. Though at least nothing bad happened at the fair today.”

Hawthorne lowered the fork he’d been winding his pasta around. “Nevaeh didn’t tell you?”

“I didn’t see her before I came here. She was getting off shift when you did.”

Hawthorne nodded. “I was talking to her when the Skyride operator gave us a note he found in the east building.”

Jazz’s eyes widened. “A note?”

“From the cult. Or at least it looks like it is.” He dug out his smartphone from the pocket of his slacks and pulled up the photo he’d taken of the note. He turned the phone, holding the screen toward Jazz.

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